Spring suspension system.



A. W. DREYFUS.

SPRING SUSPENSION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1913.

Patented May 18, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 191?.

Eatented May 18, 1915.

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ADOLPHUS WALTERS DREYFUS, OF DELHI, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters .Eatent.

SPRING SUSPENSION $YSTEM.

Application filed. June 26, 1913. Serial No. 775,845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLrHUs WALTERS DnnYrUs, of Delhi, in the county of Delaware, and in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring Suspension Systems, and do hereby declare that the following 18 a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates particularly to an improvement in suspension systems for automobiles, although it is capable of being applied to vehicles in general.

The object of my invention 1s to provide a spring suspension system for bodies of automobiles, which is .so designed that it can be substituted for all kinds of crosssprings which are now used on automobiles, so that by making the substitution, full elliptic springs may be provided in the place of the cross-springs.

My improvement is especially applicable to automobiles using single cross-springs as in the case of Ford automobiles, especially those known as Model T.

By means of my invention, the "crosssprings, and especially single cross-springs used upon automobiles, may be readily replaced by a spring suspension system involving full elliptic springs both at the front and rear of the auto-mobile. Furthermore, by means of my invention, the parts known as radius rods used on automobiles, having only a single spring, can be entirely done away with.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only cer-' in place; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cross arm used in the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the upper half of one of the springs showing the bracket carried thereby; Fig. l is a similar view of the lower half of the spring showing the bracket attached thereto; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of my suspension system as applied to the rear axle; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the cross arm used in the same; and, Fig. 7 is a perspective viewshowing the clamp for attaching the rear spring saddle to the axle.

As shown in the drawings, I have indicated a front axle l to which thereinay be attached a pair of full elliptic springs 2.

Each of the springs 2 is connected to the axle l by means of a clamping plate 3 which is secured to the spring by means of a pair of yokes at having their ends passing through the plate 3 and screw-threaded to receive nuts 5. It will be noted that the lower face of the plate 3 carries a pair of depending flanges 6 to form a recess upon the lower face of the plate 3 Which will fit over the axle 1. To secure the plate 3 in place upon the axle l, I provide a bolt 7 which passes through the center of the plate 3 and the axle 1. Each of the springs 2 carries upon its upper half a plate 8, which is secured to the spring by means of yokes 9 in a similar manner to that in which the plate 8 is secured tothe lower half of the spring. Upon its upper face each of the plates 8 is provided with an eye 10 to receive the end of a U-shaped cross arm 11 carrying nuts 12 upon its two ends. The cross arm 11 is preferably made of channel steel and has a depression in the center of the cross arm which adapts it to fit beneath the automobile body so that the system of full elliptic spring suspension may be substituted for the crossspring suspension. The U-shaped cross arm 11, at its lower portion, may have, if desired, an upwardly directed pin 13 to secure it to the automobile body. As shown in Fig. l, the cross arm 11 may receive a housing 14 attached to the automobile body.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I my system to a rear axle. In this instance, the construction is the same except in the following respects: The rear axle being usually round in crosssection, I provide at each end thereof a clamping bracket 15 having at the top thereof ahorizontal plate 16 to receive a plate 17 which is -attached to the lower half of the spring in the manner preused for the front axle, but in this instance the U-shaped cross arm is located in the position of an inverted U. f desired, however, a special cross arm 19 may be used for the rear axle spring suspension. said cross arm 19 being constructed in thesaine man- Patented May 18, 191E.

. ay apply her as the cross arm 11 already described,

except that it is provided with an upwardly directed ,pin 21 upon the upper side of the inverted U-shaped portion thereof, to locate the body of the automobile in the proper position.

'From the description of the construction hereinabove, it will be seen that'an automobile having cross-springs may be readily equipped with a full elliptic spring suspension with the springs extending longitudinally of the automobile, by merely substituting my spring suspension system for the cross-springs. In the case of automobiles using single cross-springs, there is only a single attachment from the spring to the body of the automobile, and it therefore becomes necessary, in such constructions, to use lateral braces extending from the running gear to the ends of the axles inorder to properly brace them. By, means of my invention, the radius rods may be entirely omitted.

The construction is such, furthermore, that the same type of suspension may be usedfor both front and rear axles by merely including the cross arm used upon the front axle suspension system to adapt it' for appli cation to the rear axle, If desired,,however, as lndicated above, speclal cross arms may be provided adapted only for application to the front and rear axles respectively. My invention is especially advantageous inasmuch as it can be readily applied to automobiles in a short time and with a minimum of labor. It has been frequently found desirable to provide-a more flexible suspension for automobiles having cross-springs, especially in-the case where an automobile is being used for long runs, and my system *I claim:

of suspension permits an automobile to be f quickly changed from oneftype to the other I with a minimum expenditure of time and labor. While I have described my invention abovein detail, I wish it to be understoodsw that many changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.,

, it in position on the axle.

3. A spring suspension system comprising a U-shaped cross arm, full'elliptic springs attached thereto at the top of the springs,

and means for attaching the bottoms of the springs to the axle, the U-shaped cross arm having an upwardly directed pin to attach it to the body, said means comprising a clamping bracket having a stud extending intlo the axle to hold it in positiomon the ax e.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoin I have hereunto set my hand. ADOLPHUS WALTERS DREIFUS. \v itnesses HAMILTON J. HEWITT, W M. 1:. BLACK. 

